[ EDITORIAL ]

Public Deeds: Gigs and Garlands

Published: Monday, August 4, 2014 at 1:13 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 4, 2014 at 1:13 a.m.

It's never a good week when Gigs far outweigh Garlands, but that's where we find ourselves this week. Thank heavens our one Garland carries the weight of five. Read on:

Facts

Correction

An editorial on page A6 on Monday incorrectly said Lakeland police Sgt. Brian McNabb was awaiting the outcome of his arbitration hearing. Former LPD Sgt. Rusty Longaberger is awaiting the outcome. The online version has been edited to reflect this change.

GIG: To the Florida Department of Corrections driver and front-seat co-worker who failed to heed the pleas from four inmates being transferred from Avon Park to a prison hospital in the back of a van. The men tried to tell the two men in the front that the air conditioning had failed and they were sweltering during the 200-mile trip, according to two inmates' mothers. All four were taken to the hospital for treatment. As for the DOC, Secretary Michael Crews said, "This is an unfortunate situation." Really? That's it? Running out of water on a mile-long hike is an unfortunate situation. The arrogance of the workers could have killed these men. Let's hope an investigation is thorough and accurate, not cooked for the books. If it shows these men acted inappropriately, swift and just punishment is in order.

GIG: To the city of Lakeland for setting the tentative tax rate at nearly 50 percent higher than this year's rate. We know the city can lower the rate moving forward, but advertising it this high, along with discussing a fire assessment fee and an increase in Lakeland Electric rates will do nothing but incite residents. We understand that the city has a $7.5 million deficit, but it needs to look at cutting services, reducing expenses, finding efficiencies and foregoing 4 percent raises for its employees this year – just like many other cities, agencies and private businesses have done for the past six or seven years. Expecting residents to fork over hundreds more dollars in taxes and fees while many are still unemployed or not yet receiving raises is ridiculous.

GARLAND: To Mark Bostick for being selected as the new chairman of the board at Florida Polytechnic University — and a nod to outdoing chair Rob Gidel, who got the board moving in the right direction as its first chair. Bostick, president of Comcar Industries, served as Gidel's vice chair for the past two years, positioning him perfectly to take over. With Bostick working side by side with Chief Operating Officer Ava Parker and new incoming President Randy Avent, the future looks bright for Florida Poly. We are delighted to see a Polk County man in the mix.

GIG: To the arbitrator who reinstated David Woolverton as a police officer in Lakeland. Woolverton, now demoted from sergeant to officer, also will receive a year's back pay at an officer's salary. Again, we ask: Really? A guy who's been in trouble off and on for a decade, obviously with no morals, and we return him to a job as a person children should look up to? Does this make any sense to anyone? And what about the case of Rusty Longaberger, who is awaiting an arbitrator's ruling in his case? And what about all the others caught up in the Lakeland Police Department sex scandal who were fired – will they get their jobs back and payment for what could turn out to be a year? Most of us consider that a year's paid vacation for not living up to the high standards of police officers.

GIG: To Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Rep. Seth McKeel for their inexplicable decisions not to come clean about what happened at King Ranch, one of the country's premier hunting grounds. Both of these outdoorsmen were among several high-ranking Florida Republicans who spent time at the noted Texas ranch — but, like others, could not seem to find the words to explain large portions of their visits when our partner paper, the Tampa Bay Times, asked about it. Some of the questions were quite simple, like: How did you get there? The answer: I'll have to refer all of the questions on those details to the Republican Party of Florida… These two men have always represented Polk County well — but this fouls the air around them. We deserve better.

<p>It's never a good week when Gigs far outweigh Garlands, but that's where we find ourselves this week. Thank heavens our one Garland carries the weight of five. Read on:</p><p>GIG: To the Florida Department of Corrections driver and front-seat co-worker who failed to heed the pleas from four inmates being transferred from Avon Park to a prison hospital in the back of a van. The men tried to tell the two men in the front that the air conditioning had failed and they were sweltering during the 200-mile trip, according to two inmates' mothers. All four were taken to the hospital for treatment. As for the DOC, Secretary Michael Crews said, "This is an unfortunate situation." Really? That's it? Running out of water on a mile-long hike is an unfortunate situation. The arrogance of the workers could have killed these men. Let's hope an investigation is thorough and accurate, not cooked for the books. If it shows these men acted inappropriately, swift and just punishment is in order. </p><p>GIG: To the city of Lakeland for setting the tentative tax rate at nearly 50 percent higher than this year's rate. We know the city can lower the rate moving forward, but advertising it this high, along with discussing a fire assessment fee and an increase in Lakeland Electric rates will do nothing but incite residents. We understand that the city has a $7.5 million deficit, but it needs to look at cutting services, reducing expenses, finding efficiencies and foregoing 4 percent raises for its employees this year – just like many other cities, agencies and private businesses have done for the past six or seven years. Expecting residents to fork over hundreds more dollars in taxes and fees while many are still unemployed or not yet receiving raises is ridiculous. </p><p>GARLAND: To Mark Bostick for being selected as the new chairman of the board at Florida Polytechnic University — and a nod to outdoing chair Rob Gidel, who got the board moving in the right direction as its first chair. Bostick, president of Comcar Industries, served as Gidel's vice chair for the past two years, positioning him perfectly to take over. With Bostick working side by side with Chief Operating Officer Ava Parker and new incoming President Randy Avent, the future looks bright for Florida Poly. We are delighted to see a Polk County man in the mix.</p><p>GIG: To the arbitrator who reinstated David Woolverton as a police officer in Lakeland. Woolverton, now demoted from sergeant to officer, also will receive a year's back pay at an officer's salary. Again, we ask: Really? A guy who's been in trouble off and on for a decade, obviously with no morals, and we return him to a job as a person children should look up to? Does this make any sense to anyone? And what about the case of Rusty Longaberger, who is awaiting an arbitrator's ruling in his case? And what about all the others caught up in the Lakeland Police Department sex scandal who were fired – will they get their jobs back and payment for what could turn out to be a year? Most of us consider that a year's paid vacation for not living up to the high standards of police officers. </p><p>GIG: To Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Rep. Seth McKeel for their inexplicable decisions not to come clean about what happened at King Ranch, one of the country's premier hunting grounds. Both of these outdoorsmen were among several high-ranking Florida Republicans who spent time at the noted Texas ranch — but, like others, could not seem to find the words to explain large portions of their visits when our partner paper, the Tampa Bay Times, asked about it. Some of the questions were quite simple, like: How did you get there? The answer: I'll have to refer all of the questions on those details to the Republican Party of Florida… These two men have always represented Polk County well — but this fouls the air around them. We deserve better.</p>